San Sebastián is the official European Capital of Culture for 2016! It’s the principal city of the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country, Spain.

It’s the land of Pintxo bars and the legendary “Old Town”, dating back to when the city was founded in 1180.
The annual “Saint Thomas’s Day” takes place on December 21st, when the city turns into an enormous country market of which the absolute star is the “txistorra” (fresh chorizo-like sausage). Stalls are set up all over the city, offering all sorts of food and craft wares, mostly produced by the people from the local farmhouses. These include cheese, honey, txistorra sausage, cider and cakes.

Goats on show4-horned ram… said to have magical propertiesBusy street in the Old TownYoung girls + boys on the streets singing is common for Christmas time. Note the traditional Basque clothingRoasting a pig!Typical Pintxo bar serving Pintxos which are part of the local cuisine, as well as local red wine or “Txakoli” – a sparkling white wine exclusive to the regionA citizen buying his meat at the supermarket for Christmas dayOlentzero the coal man, the Basque version of Santa Claus